Anita Pointer, singer of The Pointer Sisters, dies at 74

Beverly Hills, California. (AP) – Anita Pointer, one of four sibling singers who earned pop success and critical acclaim as The Pointer Sisters, died Saturday at the age of 74, her publicist announced.

Publicist Roger Neill said in a statement that the Grammy winner passed away while she was surrounded by family members. The cause of death was not immediately revealed.

“While we are deeply saddened by the loss of Anita, we are comforted to know that she is now with her daughter Jada and her sisters June and Bonnie and is at peace. She was the one who kept us all close and together for so long,” her sister Ruth, brothers Aaron and Fritz and granddaughter Roxy McCain Pointer said in the statement.

Anita Pointer’s only daughter, Jada Pointer, died in 2003.

Born daughters of a minister, Anita, Ruth, Bonnie and June Pointer grew up singing in their father’s church in Oakland, California.

The group’s 1973 self-titled debut album included the breakout hit, “Yes We Can”. The singer, known for hits including “I’m So Excited,” “Slow Hand,” “Neutron Dance” and “Jump (For My Love),” received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.

The 1983 album “Break Out” went triple platinum and received two American Music Awards. Neill said the group won three Grammy Awards and had 13 US Top 20 hit songs between 1973 and 1985.

Neil noted that The Pointer Sisters were also the first African American group to perform on the Grand Ole Opry program and the first contemporary act to perform at the San Francisco Opera House.

Bonnie Pointer left the group in 1977, signing a solo deal with Motown Records but enjoying only modest success. Anita Pointer said of the departure in 1990, “We were devastated.” We thought it wouldn’t work without Bonnie.”

The group, in various lineups including younger family members, continued recording through 1993.

June Pointer died of cancer in 2006 at the age of 52.

Anita Pointer announced the death of Bonnie Pointer from cardiac arrest in 2020 at the age of 69. “The Pointer Sisters would never have happened if it wasn’t for Bonnie,” she said in a statement.